aliveandcooking

10 days and counting

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:14:05 GMT

Movers arrived this morning and 42 boxes of our worldly goods were sent off to Uh-merica, painter is finishing off the last of the bits that needed touching up. Meetings with solicitors and accountants on Thursday. Its like this is actually happening....

I am still however, remembering things in the middle of the night, like: must remember to cancel the milkman, get spare keys cut for neighbours and make sure everyone has current e-mail addresses etc.

Exciting, scary, happy and sad all rolled into one. But I have discovered that the quickest way to make friends in this part of the world is to tell people you're leaving. The instructor at my water workout class asked me if today was my last class loud enough for it to be heard by others and suddenly I felt like I was surrounded by people wanting to be my friend. Where was I going? Was it permanent? How long had I lived here? etc. Really well and truly bizarre. I actually feel like I might miss some of these strange people who spent so much time and energy trying to ignore me.

To new beginnings.....

National Talk Like a Pirate Day

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:13:12 GMT

came and went and NO ONE sent me a card or anything!

that's all

I DID IT!!!!!

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:12:54 GMT

2.03Km on the elliptical in 20 minutes! I got the Platinum Medal at the gym (only like 3 other people have done this - or should I say were stupid enough to have tried)! This from the woman who couldn't do 5 minutes on the dreaded machine a few months ago.

EEEEKKKK!!!!!

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:57:18 GMT

B's visa just arrived! Not like I wasn't expecting it or anything but OMG! And it expires on 23rd March 2009! This is really happening!

In other news hormones are playing havoc with my BGs and I've lost a whopping 3/4 lb in 2 weeks despite exercising like a fiend. Trying a Water Combat Class tonight, I'm thinking that the chlorinated water may remove any camouflage make-up so it's probably best to forgo that part, yeah?

Birthday Fitness Assessment

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:24:21 GMT

Yeah, I know how sad can one girl get? But kinda WOOT too, in just 3 months I've reduced my waist by 14cms (that's 5 1/2 frickin' inches!), lost 12Kgs (that's 26 1/2 pounds), and reduced my resting heart rate by 14bpm.

In 6 months I've lost nearly 50lbs and I don't know how many clothes sizes because nothing fits me anymore. Maybe un petit shopping trip is in order. B, I won't go crazy though because I'm not done yet ;)

Happy Me

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:47:38 GMT

I went to the gym with B this morning while he was having his induction. The trainer got me talking to another woman who was new at the gym and next thing I know, she's asking me about exercises and machines - and I'm showing her. Then she says 'How do you use that bar over there?' so I show her some exercises with the flexi-bar - which I really like and I'm explaining how to stand and hold your stomach in and she says 'that's why I asked because when you were working with this I noticed you have no stomach'. OMG!!!! I could've kissed her (of course, I didn't) and of course, I DO have a stomach and a lot of work to do still but it's just sooooo nice to hear a compliment like that from a total stranger. Yippee skippy - now must store this feeling somewhere I can get to it when I'm feeling crappy.

No, seriously, rain rain go away

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:35:24 GMT

Went to the gym this morning because it was raining - again and I really didn't feel like getting all cold and muddy on my bike. Came home and pools of water had begun to form on the patio. Went to Water Workout class at the local pool (since I won't be getting my walk in either - thanks to the weather), came home and it turns out I could've just stayed home and jumped around in all the water on the patio.

Pray that the drains hold - the weather forecast is looking a bit grim.

rain rain go away

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:00:39 GMT

B told me last night that according to the BBC we had the most 'dreary August since records began' and September doesn't look much better. We/I manage to get out for walks in between the deluges but it would be really really nice to be able to dry just one load of laundry.

Trying a new conditioning class tonight at the gym, fingers crossed that my temporary weight loss moratorium shifts this week. I'm up to 2 hours of exercise/day, I don't think I can do much more - my legs are constantly sore - but hey at least they're there ;)

Very excited that I got a new 1GB MP3 player just for working out (with loads of funk that B will never have to hear), and some new gadgets for my bike

Off to try to make some low-carb snacky things, I made loads of garbanzo/chickpea 'nuts' last night thanks to my sis sending me a recipe but they're so yummy I'll probably OD on them.

Obligatory grumble of the day - FBG this morning was 6.4 grrrrrrr

Coffee Creep

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:42:35 GMT

It's slowly creeping back in, this is the 3rd day in a row I've succumbed to the cafetiere. Mostly because it gets rid of my near constant hunger and I'm out of the yerba mate with ramon that, bizarrely, I was kind of getting to like the taste of - but at $11/250g I'm not likely to get overly hooked on that .

And the coffee is.... well so yummy

SUCCESS! DOUBLE & TRIPLE WOOT!

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:00:26 GMT

My second HbA1c results are in and drum roll have gone from 6.7% to 5.7% yep, that's almost non-diabetic level numbers! WOOT WOOT WOOT!

I'm back

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:01:07 GMT

3 weeks away turned into a MONTH away but I'm back. And a fairly busy, stressful and eventful (or non-eventful) month it was too.

Very brief (and boring) summary:

Flew to L.A.
Exercised
Drove 800 miles to New Mexico to look at houses
Exercised
Found our dream house
Exercised
Drove back to L.A.
Exercised
B flew home (poor thing had to work)
Exercised
Flew to Denver to see my family
Exercised
Tried to borrow money for above mentioned dream house until our house sells
Exercised
Was refused money by all and sundry on both sides of the pond for above mentioned dream house, despite our owning our house in the UK outright
Exercised
Did the summer thing - baseball games, 4th of July fireworks, bbqs (sunshine - what a great invention!)
Exercised
My sister's husband decided he didn't want to be with her anymore (she's also 5 months pregnant following 2 years of intensive and expensive fertility treatment) - much drama ensuing
Exercised

Results:
BGs levels out of control, despite not going mad on food & avoiding starchy/sugary carbs like the plague
Lost 6 pounds (that may be due to the 8 inches I cut off my hair)
We're still in our little house in Glos.
Oh and I've been a non-smoker for 11 weeks (soon to be sans chemical crutches) and I'm off of coffee (pretty soon, I'm going to find out that air pushes up my BG levels and I'll have to stop breathing - not that I'm bitter or anything).

Results at last

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:50:48 GMT

Three days in a row of FBGs below 6! WOOT! (hear that B? all caps and maybe even rates a second WOOT!)

Yesterday I even managed numbers below 6 ALL DAY LONG! SUPER WOOT! Just need to work out what I've been doing or not doing now so I can keep doing it or not.

AAAAAACCCCCCKKKKK!!!!

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:02:39 GMT

Some days with D are better than others. So far, I've found that rainy days with D are not good days.

Rainy days mean no bike ride, which means I have to watch carbs even more closely. Just when there's nothing more that I want than a big bowl of popcorn or a slice of pizza or even a piece of bread - not that I could have these things even if I could ride my bike but well, it just kind of makes it worse.

When looking for experience or experience from other diabetics or the medical profession - there are two distinct camps, namely, the Pork Rind People and the Potato People. The former being Atkins-type extreme low carb freaks who will eat 6-8 eggs a day or try to construct pancakes from pulverised pork skin, but as long as no grain of, well grain really, passes their lips, they are safe; and the latter who eat (or push) loads of (almost unlimited) carbs but as long as no sugar is consumed, they are safe. I suspect that if there are any 'normal' (I'm going to call them the Mole People) people with D, they keep a low profile in order to avoid the proselytising of the other two. I guess its just the way the whole world is; why would a chronic life-threatening medical condition be safe from the 'us/them' attitude?

Add that to the joys of having builders in to fit a new and expensive boiler that probably will benefit us little (assuming we manage to sell the house) and that still isn't fitted because another unexpected part is required (pesky gravity means that the condensation won't drain uphill and out of the house without a pump). So another day of labour and extra parts and general upheaval.

Oh and I'd still really like a slice of pizza (made without potatoes or pork rinds thank you)....

Today's Good News

Thu, 29 May 2008 14:02:45 GMT

is that I probably don't have Sickle Cell or Thalassemia, but apparently I'm a carrier for Hemoglobin D (I can live with being a carrier since I'm not a breeder anyway) - this is a relief. I'm waiting for my GP to pass on the definition of what this actually means from the consultant Hemotologist;

and B's (well my really) petition to request immigration approval arrived this morning (on to Step 2);

and it's not raining;

and I managed to add about 1 1/2 miles to my bike ride this morning;

and its swing dance class tonight - woo-hoo!;

and I'm practicing positive-thinking;

and my cholesterol levels should come down once the drugs kick in;

and we're on holiday in two weeks!

Endorphins - I could get used to them

Tue, 27 May 2008 09:02:16 GMT

Not like I'm really fit or anything but I noticed with the typical Bank Holiday 3 days of rain - I was climbing the walls to get some exercise. The main reason being so that I could bring my BG down enough to actually eat something besides pure protein (very difficult to find), but even after I had my skinless chicken breast breakfast and got BG closer to what I wanted - I was antsy to move and pissed off that I couldn't go for a bike ride or a brisk walk.

Are you off the floor yet?

Yes, technically I could've gone riding in the horizontal splooshiness but the 60 mile gusts of wind didn't look too much fun either. So calisthenics in the kitchen it was - I am NOT a fan of repetitive exercise - I get bored by the 20th jumping jack and well it just seems like work from there on out. Yes, I know its supposed to be work as in 'work-out' but I need a bit more motivation than mind-numbing sets of squat thrusts and knee lunges to keep me doing the 45minute+/day for which I'm aiming.

So I've decided to add jive/swing dancing to my regimen. My first lesson was last Thursday and it was pretty fun even though I can't tell left from right; and despite me joining the class in the 5th week of the course I didn't feel too far behind by the end of the lesson (lets see how much I remember this week). So newly added to my shopping list is a pair of saddle shoes with slippy bottoms so I can spin and swing with ease.

I've also booked in for a training session at the gym and I'm hoping to add weight lifting, tai chi, and water aerobics to the list.

Oh yeah and its THREE WEEKS today that I've been a non-smoker. WoOt! (3rd one B)

It must be summer or something....

Wed, 21 May 2008 08:37:01 GMT

despite the lack of sunshine or warm temperatures. I actually managed to get out of the house and on my bike by 8:15!

Sixteen Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six - John Hammond Jr. (mea culpa, my brain wasn't working, NOT Richard Hammond)

Yes, I know its a cover but its a damned good one and there are plenty of good covers of Tom Waits songs out there (we've got Heart Attack and Vine recorded by at least 5 artists - I guess we kind of like Tom Waits).

And I'm now officially spending more on blood glucose test strips than I was on cigarettes - £6.50 yesterday. I must remember to check if Philip Morris and Johnson & Johnson are linked somehow. According to the International Diabetes Federation 246 million people worldwide are 'affected' by diabetes with the number to rise to 380M by 2025 (and no they're not all American). If only 1/4th of currently dx'd test even once a day, that's $61.5 million per day in test strips alone (no wonder they give out the monitors free)! I think I'm in the wrong business. BTW, my 'diabetic specialist' nurse wasn't concerned at all about my anxiety levels with regards to testing when she found out I was paying for the strips myself - she even asked to see my results.

Officially in Week 3

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:26:13 GMT

15 Feet of Pure White Snow - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

I'm just back from a (double! am I lucky or what?) appointment with the 'diabetic nazi nurse' combined with an assessment of the non-smoking thing (which gets me more time than D *sigh*). And I'm feeling quite pleased with myself, in the course of the appointment, she asked if I had a medical background in what I am taking to mean a fairly sincere tone given that she said she wished all her patients were as knowledgeable about their health as me. I give myself a brownie point with extra gold stars.

Speaking of brownies, did you know that a Denny's Hot Fudge Brownie a la Mode has 147g carbohydrates and 997 calories (virtually an entire day's worth of both for me at the moment)? Luckily there isn't a Denny's in Gloucestershire....

And in the really cool band names that I wish I'd thought of category.....We Were Promised Jetpacks, sadly they're not very original in any other respect but its a good name.

Mon, 19 May 2008 08:47:22 GMT

Busy-ness busy-ness, a multitude of doctor's appointments, our first viewing (of the house!), tearing my hair out trying to file payroll taxes, and a weekend at B's dad's meant I haven't been able to post.

11 - Eleven Years - Us3
12 - 12:04 - Amy Correia
13 - Thirteen - Johnny Cash
14 - Fourteenth of February - Billy Bragg

TWO WEEKS TODAY! Its kind of strange, there are times that I'm consciously aware of wanting a cigarette and yet I just take a deep breath and ignore it - aren't drugs wonderful?

Thu, 15 May 2008 08:47:25 GMT

I know I technically should be saving this song for sometime in January of 2011, but hey I couldn't find anything else (apologies in advance if I do a repeat in 3 years time) so my song for day TEN is:

10:15 Saturday Night, The Cure

Meanwhile, I learned all about assembling hanging baskets and decorative pots at the local Diabetes UK Support Group meeting last night - I guess the big difference between them and the WI was that there were MEN there. There were raffle tickets for unwanted bottles of shower gel, etc., talk of upcoming book and plant sales and volunteer opportunities galore. The D word was never mentioned except in the context of Diabetes UKtm and their charitable efforts. To be fair, the chairperson grabbed me as everyone else was grabbing plants for their hanging baskets (to buy) and shoved a small magazine sized 'Beginner's Guide to Diabetes' into my hand while asking for £3 for it and telling me not to listen to what anyone else says about diabetes....just them (ie, Diabetes UKtm). I came home feeling kind of creeped out and ashamed of myself for not having the spine to refuse to buy their guide.

And if there are any religious missionaries out there, I'm NOT interested in a copy of the Watchtower, Book or Mormon or anything else, thank you. I've got a new religion and it's name is diabetes, can you spare 5 minutes of your time?

Is it Wednesday already?

Wed, 14 May 2008 08:20:21 GMT

Song for the Day:

Kuzuryu (The Nine-Headed Dragon), Mugyenko

Which is kind of like how I feel today. Mostly, the other 8 dragon heads are sleeping - for now.

Rage Against the Nicotine

Tue, 13 May 2008 09:25:23 GMT

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday so my song for yesterday was:

Seven Days by Azure Ray

Today's Song is:

Eight More Miles by Laurie Lewis, Claire Lynch, Lynn Morris & Rhonda Vincent

Nothing and everything else is new.

Smoking seems to have been masking a lot of anger, I'm B*&CHy - just ask poor B. Spending inordinate amounts of money yesterday on healthy (but expensive) food helped a little.

Oh and eating 6 times a day is HARD work. You wouldn't think so, would you? But at breakfast I'm already planning on what I can eat for my mid-morning snack in 3 hours time and whether this needs to be high enough in carbs to sustain a 40minute bike ride or 1/2 hour of mowing the lawn. I'm sure I'll get used to it but it's a drag at the moment.

Trying to assemble a solid colour jigsaw puzzle in the dark while wearing mittens

Sun, 11 May 2008 09:41:34 GMT

That's what I feel like I'm doing with this diabetes thing. One of the joys of this disease is that everyone is different and as such there is no one thing that everyone reacts to in the same way (1 person can eat broccoli without affecting BG, the next can't). I've been have noticeable but unexplicable (immediately anyway) highs and lows on the BG levels for the past 2 days - is it the oatmeal? was it the adrenaline rush of watching Gloucester Rugby Club beating Bath and finishing top of the table (again, WooT!)? not enough food before exercise? too many hormones? not enough hormones? ambient temperature? phase of the moon? Take your pick. I'm just going to keep data collecting and see if I can find patterns. Kind of difficult being the testor and testee at the same time though.

And as an homage to the sad b*&St*£d who put together the entertaining youtube video of 100 films, 100 numbers, 100 lines (sorry can't be asked to put the URL up), I've decided to post the name of a song from our collection containing the number of days I've been a non-smoker (if I get good enough I'll learn to post actual music). Today's selection is:

She's a Six, by Jesus H. Christ & the Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse

Surreal LJ Adverts

Fri, 09 May 2008 09:29:10 GMT

Gay Bear Dating - *sigh* I love the internet

Day 4 of non-smokerness and I'm still pretty cool. I think B's surprised he doesn't have more scars (although I did poke him with my lancet a few times, in the interest of health and science of course *wink* - he's a confirmed non-diabetic).

My reward to myself for all this healthiness (getting loads of regular exercise, sticking to my food plan and not smoking) was....*drum roll*...a set of 'nutri-scales' that calculate carbs, calories, protein, etc automatically (although the database is fairly limited) and a set of body fat scales - WOOT! (2nd Woot there B)

Actually both of my new 'toys' are pretty cool and I'm looking forward to playing with them (and the resultant spreadsheets and graphs) more. However, I did ascertain yesterday, through the magic of tiny electrical impulses coursing through my body, that I am basically a big stick of butter on legs - not margarine, not olive oil spread - BUTTER (lightly salted). If you were a food suitable for spreading on bread or toast, what would it be?

Day 2 and It Feels like Christmas!

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:36:08 GMT

Bet you didn't expect that one, huh?

A few times I've had the 'urge' but I respond to it with 'I'm a non-smoker now, non-smokers don't smoke.' Bizarrely, this seems to be working. I've also started a list of reasons why I'm glad that I don't smoke for referring to in case it's needed. I had (yet another) nurse's appointment and the irony and sadness of the smokers outside the office hit me (not something I'd had to do before - yet).

The reason it feels like Christmas is that my lovely, lovely sister sent me 200 blood glucose test strips with accompanying paraphenalia (monitor, lancets, etc) and the test strips I got off e-bay arrived simultaneously with the short-clad postman this morning. I feel like I can test like crazy now, my fingers will look like colanders!

I'll post more about my 2 hour 'Diabetes Education for Dummies' session yesterday, later. But the good news is that armed with my (useless for T2 Diabetics according to the NHS) monitor I've managed to get consistently lower Fasting readings (numbers in parentheses are the American conversion).

23 days ago - 9 mmol/L (162mg/dl)
16 days ago - 8.5 (153)
4 days ago - 8.0 (144)
past 2 days - 6.9 (124)
TODAY - 6.5 (117)

BOLLOCKS to the NHS Accountancy Dept for setting Health Care Policy, I hope they all get diabetes and get the same level of care (or lack thereof) that they're inflicting on the rest of us. End of rant.

Resume Christmas-like festivities. Stuff the skinless Chicken Breast with Toasted Oatbran, decorate the trees with potatoes and fag ends and get Father Christmas on his push-bike instead of that sleigh - lazy sod (he's just an undx'd diabetic anyway). :)

Just because everyone else is doing it...

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:34:59 GMT

no I don't want to know about any cliffs or bridges or anything :)
courtesy of tchernabyelo (I don't know how to do that link thing)

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